The beginning of 2008 God inspired a family ministry called Emerging Life Ministries. At first it was more of an idea than reality but He is gradually unfolding His purpose for this ministry. May He emerge more deeply in your life through this ministry. Visit the complete website at www.emerginglifeministries.net

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Unwinding Grave Clothes

“The dead man came
out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his
face. Jesus said to them ‘Take off the
grave clothes and let him go.’” John 11:44

Once the stone was rolled away from the entrance of the tomb
of Lazarus, Jesus gave the command to the sisters to remove their brother’s
grave clothes and let him go. I realize
what this verse is implying without actually stating the obvious. His unspoken words are saying that this
person is finally free to live again, but he is still bound. His unspoken command was for others to unbind
him so he could walk in his new freedom.
The consequences of his words would be that the odor could be
overwhelming and might downright stink.
The consequences of his instructions would involve them getting their
hands messy. What is another word for this?

Mentoring...giving
of yourself when others are trying to break free from their tomb. It means making yourself available when you
really don’t feel like or when you have repeatedly told them the same
truth. I’ll never forget at my
grandmother’s 100th birthday party the line of people who stood up
and shared the many ways she had pushed her own agenda aside. One spoke of how she dropped in at dinner
time and Grandmother pushed her plate aside and went to a private room to minister
to her heart. The stories went on and
on...unwinding grave clothes...unbinding
strongholds...holding out her hands for that first baby step.

Jesus could have easily done the work of removing the grave
clothes but He knows the blessings and joy that will be ours when we partner
with Him. He understands that at some point we will be the one requiring others to remove the cloth that covers our spiritual eyes. He knew that unwinding one strip of cloth off someone else's life would teach us something about ourself. Life provides many
opportunities where we might be the resurrected one and other times be the ones
who are called to get messy ...involved...inconvenienced. Our response dare not be delayed for the
spiritual life of another might depend on it.

“Then he said to his
disciples,‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to
send out workers into his harvest field.’”Matthew 9:37-38